Public Sector Updates – North

Launceston General Hospital

Acute Medical Unit

The ANMF met with members on the Launceston General Hospital Acute Medical Unit late last year to discuss the proposed 2020 Acute Medical Unit benchmarking. Members endorsed the benchmarking however raised concerns with the current skill mix, baseline roster gaps, overtime, and double shifts. The ANMF has had a preliminary discussion with Tasmanian Health Service management and are hopeful of finding a resolution to the concerns raised by members.

Emergency Department

On Monday 21 December, the ANMF was presented with a proposal from the Tasmanian Health Service that would see the zone staffing within the Emergency Department increase by four on the early shift, four on the late shift, and three on the night shift. This will require a nursing full-time equivalent (FTE) increase of 21.30. Read the latest update on the change here.

Wards 4O/4B

On Wednesday 9 December 2020, the AMMF attended the Step 2 Specialist Panel meeting regarding the current workload concerns on the Launceston General Hospital wards 4O/4B. Following this meeting, the ANMF wrote to Tasmanian Health Service management requesting consideration be given to increasing staffing on night shift by one to relieve the current workload pressures. This has been put as a request for an interim measure while the process for a reassessment of Birth Rate Plus is being worked through. Read the full update emailed to members working on the wards 4O/4B.

Operating Theatre Suite

On 10 December 2020 the ANMF met with members to discuss the results of the Operating Theatre Suite survey conducted by the ANMF, as well as member’s ongoing current workload concerns. We have now written to Tasmanian Health Service management raising a Step 1 Grievance. Read the full update sent to members late last year here.

Ward 5B

On 2 December 2020, the ANMF met with members of ward 5B to discuss the proposed 2020 benchmarking. At this meeting members raised concerns regarding the current acuity of the ward, skill mix, and workloads amongst other matters. Read the full update sent to members late last year.

Beaconsfield District Health Service

The ANMF met with members from the Beaconsfield District Health Service (BDHS) on 14 December 2020. Following discussion with members at this meeting, the ANMF welcomes all members to complete a short survey regarding their experiences with the new rostering system. The survey can be found here.

North East Soldiers Memorial Hospital

Last month, ANMF officials met with members at North East Soldiers Memorial Hospital (NESMH). Members raised concerns regarding current workloads, skill mix, recruitment and retention, the current staffing model and baseline roster gaps. ANMF have provided members with workload forms in order to collect data on the current workload concerns over the Christmas and New Year period. ANMF will be scheduling a follow up meeting with members soon to discuss a plan for resolution of the workload concerns.

Updates correct as at 7 January 2021.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary

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